The Sunday List: Wolf Pack football team's toughest games

Joe Southwick

Every Sunday, RGJ columnist Chris Murray will count down a top-10 list. This week's list is on the Wolf Pack football team's 10 toughest games in 2013. Since the team has 12 games, most make the list.

1. at Florida State: The Seminoles lost 11 players to the NFL, so Florida State is ripe for an upset, right? No. The program is still loaded. Add the heat, humidity and long travel to Tallahassee and Nevada will be a big underdog.

2. at UCLA: Homecoming game for much of Nevada's roster. This game features two elite dual-threat quarterbacks. UCLA's Brett Hundley (4,095 yards, 38 TDs as a freshman) will test the Wolf Pack defense.

3. at Boise State: Nevada is 2-16 all-time at Boise State, with the lone wins coming in 1997 and 1986. Couple that with Boise State's 12-1 mark in this series since 1999 and Nevada is fighting an uphill battle.

4. at Fresno State: I actually think Fresno State has a slightly stronger team than Boise State this year, so this game won't be a walk in the park. The game could have major MWC West Division implications.

5. at San Diego State: Noticing a theme here? The Wolf Pack's five most difficult games all come on the road. It's an incredibly difficult run of road games, the toughest in program history without question.

6. vs. BYU: McQueen High grad Kyle Van Noy, a first-round prospect in the 2014 draft, comes home. This contest actually replaces a scheduled home tilt with Oregon, a game which would have topped this list.

7. vs. San Jose State: David Fales finally makes his Mackay Stadium debut. The former Wolf Pack quarterback (he backed up Colin Kaepernick for one year) leads SJSU and is a legit NFL prospect.

8. vs. UNLV: Nevada has won eight straight games in this series, although last year's contest was close. The Rebels shouldn't have too strong of a team in 2013, but rivalry games tend to be competitive.

9. vs. Air Force: The Falcons' triple-option offense destroyed Nevada last year to the tune of 48 points and 600 yards. The Pack's defense is changing, but will it have an answer for that triple-option this year?

10. at Colorado State: The "easiest" of Nevada's six road games won't be a picnic. The Rams have struggled in recent seasons but are a trendy pick to be the MWC's most improved team.

Next five (truncated since there are only two other games): vs. Hawaii; vs. UC Davis.

- Chris Murray, RGJ

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The Sunday List: Wolf Pack football team's toughest games

Every Sunday, RGJ columnist Chris Murray will count down a top-10 list. This week's list is on the Wolf Pack football team's 10 toughest games in 2013. Since the team has 12 games, most make the list.

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